Aquatics GB (formerly British Swimming) is the national governing body of swimming, water polo, artistic swimming, diving and open water in Great Britain.About British Swimming page of the British Swimming website (www.swimming.org/britishswimming); retrieved 2010-07-13. Aquatics GB is a federation of the national governing bodies of England (Swim England), Scotland (Scottish Swimming), and Wales (Swim Wales). These three are collectively known as the Home Country National Governing Bodies.
For international swimming purposes, competitive swimming in Northern Ireland falls under the Irish swimming federation, Swim Ireland, and as such Aquatics GB represents Great Britain, rather than the United Kingdom. For the Olympic Games, Northern Irish swimmers may opt to compete for Aquatics GB.
Aquatics GB is a member of World Aquatics, LEN, the British Olympic Association and the British Paralympic Association, and has responsibility for elite performance, doping control and international relationships and events for the sports within Great Britain. The Home Country National Governing Bodies are affiliated to Aquatics GB and are responsible for all other management of the sports in their respective countries from the learn to swim programmes up to performance development.
History British Swimming (as it was known at the time) became the primary organisation for Great British swimming in 2014, previously the Amateur Swimming Association (ASA) had been responsible for elite swimming.
In 2024, the organisation underwent a rebranding and was renamed Aquatics GB to oversee five disciplines of swimming, diving, para-swimming, artistic swimming and water polo.
Championships Aquatics GB organises championships every year in each of the sporting disciplines.
Swimming Long course
Short course The Aquatics GB Short Course Championships were usually held in August or September each year, though the event has not been held since 2004 YearDatesVenue20019–12 AugustNorwich200212–15 SeptemberCambridge200314–17 AugustGrand Central Pools, Stockport200426–29 AugustAquatics Centre, Manchester
Water polo Domestic water polo competition in the UK is centred on the National Water Polo League (NWPL) and National Women's Water Polo League (NWWPL), which operate through the autumn and winter. The British Championships organised by British Swimming are held in the Spring. Winners of the championships in recent years are listed below.
British Championships
YearMen's championsWomen's champions1996 BristolN/A1997BristolN/A1998BristolN/A1999LancasterN/A2000LancasterN/A2001BristolN/A2002PenguinN/A2003LancasterN/A2004LancasterN/A2005LancasterSheffield2006LancasterCity of Sheffield2007Lancaster?2008RotherhamManchester2009LancasterManchester
Masters swimming An annual championships for Masters swimmers is organised in rotation by the Home Countries, usually in June, for senior (18–24 yrs) and masters (25 yrs+). The championships are held in a long course (50 m) pool.
YearDatesVenue19879–11 OctoberAfan Lido Pool, Aberavon19884–5 NovemberDundee19893–5 NovemberCoventry Sports and Leisure Centre, Coventry1990NovemberWales Empire Pool, Cardiff1991JulyLeeds International Pool, Leeds19925–7 JuneCrystal Palace National Sports Centre, London19934–6 JuneWales Empire Pool, Cardiff19943–5 JuneLeeds International Pool, Leeds19952–4 JuneCrystal Palace National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace, London199626–28 AprilPonds Forge, Sheffield19976–8 JuneWales Empire Pool, Cardiff199829–31 MayTollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow19994–6 June Coventry Sports and Leisure Centre, Coventry20002–4 JuneCrystal Palace National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace, London20011–3 JuneTollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow200231 May–2 JuneCrystal Palace National Sports Centre, Crystal Palace, London20036–8 JuneWelsh National Pool, Swansea200423–25 AprilAquatics Centre, Manchester20053–5 JuneTollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow200616–18 JuneAquatics Centre, Manchester200715–17 JuneAquatics Centre, Manchester200820–22 JuneAquatics Centre, Manchester200919 JuneCardiff International Pool, Cardiff201018–20 JuneTollcross International Swimming Centre, Glasgow201117–19 JuneJohn Charles Centre for Sport, Leeds20124–6 MayPonds Forge, Sheffield201314–16 JunePlymouth Life Centre, Plymouth201413–15 JuneWelsh National Pool, Swansea201512–14 JuneAquatics Centre, Manchester
Open water swimming Alongside the Open Water Grand Prix series, Aquatics GB also arranges national championship events over 5 km and 10 km.
Diving The British Diving Championships are held annually in the winter. Sometimes the annual championships are held in the December of the preceding calendar year.
Synchronised swimming The British Synchronised Swimming Championships are usually held in November or December each year.
YearDatesVenue20046–7 NovemberGala Baths, Walsall20055–6 NovemberBraunstone LC, Leicester20062–3 DecemberGloucester LC, Gloucester20071–2 DecemberGloucester LC, Gloucester20086–7 DecemberGloucester LC, Gloucester20095–6 DecemberGloucester LC, Gloucester20103–5 DecemberGloucester LC, Gloucester20112–4 DecemberGloucester LC, Gloucester
Sponsorship In 2009, Aquatics GB announced a £15 million, 6 year sponsorship deal with British Gas.http://www.sportcentric.com/vsite/vcontent/content/news/0,10869,5157-183729-200947-40069-294738-news-item,00.html It also announced sponsorship with Kellogg's and Speedo in 2009. In 2016, Aquatics GB announced a new sponsorship deal with TYR Sport, Inc.
Further reading Keil, Ian/Wix, Don, In the Swim. The Amateur Swimming Association from 1869 to 1994, London 1996
See also British records in swimming List of Olympic size swimming pools in the United Kingdom
References